Nov 11, 2026
Serving Country, Serving Community: Veteran-Owned Businesses on the Peaceful Side
Written by: Emily Huffstetler
On the Peaceful Side of the Smokies, veterans who have served our country continue to serve the community through their businesses. This Veterans Day and throughout the year, giving back can be as simple as choosing where to eat, shop or stay. Here are just a few veteran-owned businesses to consider.
Hot Rod Distillery in Alcoa features Tennessee moonshine, classic cars and a family history of military service.
Owner Steve Stanick is a Gulf War veteran who served as an infantryman with the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division. His son Rob, a disabled veteran, served in the Iraq War and participated in the Battle of Baghdad. Rob now manages operations at the family’s railroad equipment business.
“We are a military family, and the military has had a profound effect on our lives. We would not have what we have today if it wasn’t for the drive and discipline the military provided.”
—Steve Stanick
Steve and his wife, Theresa, run Hot Rod Distillery alongside their son Nate, the family’s master distiller and flavor expert. Opened in July 2026, the distillery at 3033 Regal Drive offers 26 moonshine flavors, complimentary tastings and a collection of classic hot rods.
The distillery offers a 10% discount year-round to veterans, military personnel and first responders.
Marine Corps veterans Richard “Debo” Deibler and Ronnie “Meltface” Meyers first met during their military service, years before opening Blood Stripe Brewing with fellow founder Matt McNeilly.
Deibler, a retired Marine Corps gunnery sergeant, began his military career as an airframes technician before becoming a crew chief. He worked on Huey and Cobra helicopters and completed multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Meyers also served in the Marine Corps, later working as a technical representative for V-22 Osprey flight simulators.
Following their military service, Deibler and Meyers pursued their interest in brewing. They met McNeilly through the Brewing and Distilling Center in Knoxville, where the three connected over their shared backgrounds in aviation. Together, they went on to establish Blood Stripe Brewing.
The brewery takes its name from the scarlet stripe worn on Marine Corps dress blue trousers, a tribute to Marines who lost their lives in service. Blood Stripe also pays tribute to Marine Sergeant Justin “Jev” Everett, a friend who died in a helicopter collision in 2012.
Blood Stripe opened its Alcoa taproom at 355 Gill Street in January 2026. The brewery serves craft beer and hosts food trucks and live music on select dates.
The Rocky Top Veterans Foundation lists the brewery as a Veteran Safe Place, a program that helps participating businesses recognize and assist veterans experiencing a crisis.
Tremont Lodge & Resort, Townsend
Air Force veteran Blake Dailey and his wife, Nicole, turned their interest in real estate into a hospitality business while Blake was still on active duty.
After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Dailey began investing in rental properties in 2019. The couple later expanded into boutique hotels before purchasing Tremont Lodge & Resort in Townsend in 2023.
Dailey separated from the Air Force in 2024 and relocated to Tennessee to oversee a $3.3 million renovation of the resort.
Today, the family-owned property features 130 renovated rooms and suites, indoor and seasonal outdoor pools, pickleball courts, a fitness center and event spaces. The resort is minutes from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with accommodations for couples, families and groups visiting Townsend.
Marine Corps veteran David Dickens and his wife, Onnicha, drew on their experiences as a military family when opening A-Thai Kitchen.
David retired after 28 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Born and raised in Thailand, Onnicha developed a passion for sharing her country’s cuisine. The couple’s years living and traveling internationally helped inspire their business.
“Throughout David’s military career, food was one of the ways we brought family, friends, and different cultures together.”
—Onnicha Dickens
The couple launched the A-Thai food truck in 2022 before opening their permanent restaurant at 2909 Old Knoxville Highway in May 2026. A-Thai Kitchen serves homemade Thai dishes, including gluten-free options, prepared without added MSG.
The restaurant offers year-round discounts for veterans, military personnel and first responders. This holiday season, A-Thai Kitchen is also an official Marine Corps Toys for Tots drop-off location, accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys for children in need.
Blackhorse Pub & Brewery, Alcoa
Army veteran Jeff Robinson and his wife, Sherri, founded Blackhorse Pub & Brewery after Jeff returned from Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
A former helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne Division, Robinson opened the couple’s first pub in Clarksville in 1992. They expanded into craft brewing three years later.
The couple named the business after the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, a unit Robinson admired during his service. Blackhorse also created Batch 160 Black IPA as a tribute to the Night Stalkers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
In 2021, Blackhorse expanded to Alcoa, converting a former Aluminum Company of America building on North Hall Road into a brewery, restaurant and beer garden. The location serves handcrafted beers alongside pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and other pub fare.
Quick Fix Coffee founder Gary Washburn developed the idea for his Maryville coffee shop while working as a barista and part-time bartender during his military service.
He applied techniques from bartending to specialty coffee preparation, focusing on making drinks quickly and efficiently.
Washburn opened Quick Fix Coffee in 2014. The drive-through at 314 North Washington Street serves coffee, espresso drinks, Italian sodas, smoothies and other beverages.
Hatcher’s On Target BBQ, Alcoa
Hatcher’s On Target BBQ is a veteran-owned, family-operated restaurant that opened in Alcoa in 2022.
Located on North Wright Road, the restaurant serves smoked brisket, pulled pork, chicken and other barbecue dishes alongside Southern sides like collard greens, fried okra and hush puppies. Its selection of house-made sauces ranges from mild Sweet Heat to Afterburner, made with ghost peppers and Carolina Reapers.
The Back Nine Golf in Alcoa provides year-round indoor golf through Full Swing simulators, allowing players to practice their swings or play virtual rounds on courses such as Pebble Beach and St. Andrews.
Located at 1120 Franck Street in the Springbrook area, the veteran-owned facility offers simulator reservations to the public and 24-hour access for members.
Veterans and active-duty military members also receive a waiver of the one-time $25 account setup fee on eligible Par, Birdie and Eagle memberships.
Born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, with roots tracing back to Cades Cove, Emily Huffstetler is a proud Maryville College graduate and storyteller of the Greater Smokies region. She holds a Master of Science in Conservation Education from Mississippi State University.